David K. Randall, author of the just published “Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep,” an exploration of the mechanics and business of sleep peppered with outrageous case studies, was never inspired by the subject until one late-night sleepwalking session of his own ended with a face-full of wall.

Anyone prone to unconsciously lacing up shoes after 2am, and those who suffer along with and laugh at those people, will find enlightening material this book. "Dreamland" poses fascinating and often very unsettling questions about what happens when we go to bed.

Here are some party-worthy factoids contained in its thirteen chapters:

• By 2011 there were over seventy-five recognized sleep disorders, and the number continues to grow.
• Adult bodies are not built to sleep past noon (sorry, bartenders).
• Those who have lost their sight after they were toddlers continue to dream in images, while those who were blind from birth dream with sounds.
• Almost all cases of sleep crime involve men.
• Sleep apnea was the cause of thirty-eight thousand fatal heart attacks and strokes in the United States each year. About twenty million Americans have the disorder.

Inspired by "Dreamland," here's our round-up of some other weird events in sleep history:

• A girl unafraid (and unaware) of the heights she could conquer [via the Daily Mail]
• This songwriter’s sleep-talking was so narratively rich, character-driven, and just plain crazy that his housemate started recording it. You never know when creativity might strike (and which jerk roommate owns a recording device). [via YouTube]
• Ah, the Ambien explains the crumbs on the pillow. Of...course. [via Health.com]
• The funniest sleepwalker to make it to the Dustbuster Olympics, Mike Birbiglia [via YouTube]

The next time your sleepmate wakes you up to ask why that bear is watching from the dresser, keep all of this in mind. You're in good company.